System and Method for Management and Delivery of Content and Rules

ABSTRACT

A system and methods for management and delivery of content and rules is disclosed. An exemplary method may comprise managing, for an organization, a plurality of data and a plurality of content in separate database entities, wherein the plurality of content is associated with the plurality of data based on a plurality of rules; packaging the plurality of rules with the plurality of content in a carrier that is independent from one or more presentation channels, wherein at least part of the plurality of content is integrated with at least part of the plurality of data; delivering the plurality of data and the carrier to the one or more presentation channels; integrating, at the one or more presentation channels, the plurality of data with the plurality of content based on the plurality of rules; and distributing the integrated data and content through the one or more presentation channels.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to business communication andmarketing. More particular, the present invention relates to a systemand method for management and delivery of content and rules.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Nowadays, it is typical for a business organization to communicate withclients and the general public through a number of media channels inorder to promote sales or to improve public relations. For example, acompany may maintain a website to provide information related tocorporate background, products and services, sales and promotions, etc.The company may interact directly with current or potential clientsthrough its retail and customer services divisions. It may also contactcurrent or potential clients through direct mailing or telemarketing. Inaddition, it may place advertisements via mass media such as newspapers,magazines, or radio and television broadcast. It may also displaymessages and/or advertisements on display-boards in public places or atpublic events.

Depending on specific topics, the targeted audience and carrierchannels, these communications often vary substantially in theircontent, format and level of detail. For example, mass mediaadvertisements and/or messages include general communications targetedat a large group of consumers. Due to the high costs of mass mediachannels, the language and format for these communications are typicallyshort and concise. Direct mailings usually include specific offerstailored for individuals or families. This type of communication tendsto be more personalized and more detailed. Interactive media such asInternet websites favor yet another style of communications, which canbe both generalized and individualized if necessary. For example, on theone hand a website can provide general information regarding the companyand its products and services to a visitor. On the other hand, thewebsite may also need to generate personalized content through aninteraction with the visitor. In addition, an Internet website may enjoya number of electronic publishing abilities, such as animations andpop-out banners, not available to other media channels.

With the great variety of media channels available, a modem organizationcan be empowered to strengthen its relationship with existing clients,to extend its reach to potential clients, and to enhance its publicimage and public relations, provided that communications through themultiple channels are properly managed and coordinated.

However, existing business communications and marketing solutionsgenerally do not meet such requirements. Many solutions are typicallysingle-functioned in that they each only deal with one or two mediachannels at a time. For example, some targeted marketing processes arecapable of inserting variable information into client communicationswhich are only in printed format. These processes usually cannot beeasily modified to accommodate a different set of data or content orsupport publishing through other media channels (e.g., Internetbanners). As a result, they cannot readily respond to fast-changingbusiness demands with effective coordination. In many organizations,variable content for one media channel are managed separately from thosefor another channel, where the redundant development and maintenance maylead to waste of resources and inconsistencies among the differentchannels. Those inconsistencies may cause customer dissatisfaction andeven raise legal or compliance issues. Further, most existing contentmanagement implementations typically lack the ability to share contentand data assets among different lines of business due to the complexityof decisioning process flows to multiple presentation channels. Mostcontent management tools lack the ability to pass decisioningfunctionality to the presentation layers. Few of them facilitateefficient change management or reliable direct auditing.

For example, in a traditional direct mail process, in order to generatethe required direct mail pieces for a marketing campaign, the businesshas to create a massive target list by sorting a population database andtagging selected entries with cell codes. The target list file is thendelivered to a print vendor together with pre-composed layout files. Theprint vendor typically has to re-key or import layout files into theirsystems using placeholders for variable data that will be input from thelist file. Based on the logic and business rules which are usuallyprovided by the business in the form of written instructions, the printvendor will have to program variability instructions to match thevariable data to the layout files. The print vendor also has tore-create the formatting information based on instructions and samplesprovided. Next, the list file is loaded into a computer system where thecell codes of the variable data are matched to the printed forms byexecuting the variability instructions. Samples of the printouts will bemanually verified by the business before mass printing is allowed toproceed. For another cycle of direct mailing, much of the work will haveto be re-created or repeated. As can be seen, the whole process is farfrom streamlined and there is plenty of room for errors to beintroduced.

In a traditional web content management process the content is manageddirectly in the tool that is deploying the content on the web. If thatcontent is used elsewhere in the business, it must usually be updated inmultiple locations. Additionally, web deployments, too, lack the abilityto pass or receive the decisioning rules.

Other problems and drawbacks also exist.

In view of the foregoing, it would desirable to provide a solution formanaging and delivering enterprise content which overcomes theabove-described deficiencies and shortcomings.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

One embodiment of the present invention comprises a method formanagement and delivery of content and rules. The method comprisesmanaging, for an organization, a plurality of data and a plurality ofcontent in separate database entities, wherein the plurality of contentis associated with the plurality of data based on a plurality of rules;packaging the plurality of rules with the plurality of content in acarrier that is independent from one or more presentation channels,wherein at least part of the plurality of content is integrated with atleast part of the plurality of data; delivering the plurality of dataand the carrier to the one or more presentation channels; integrating,at the one or more presentation channels, the plurality of data with theplurality of content based on the plurality of rules; and distributingthe integrated data and content through the one or more presentationchannels.

Another embodiment of the present invention comprises a system formanagement and delivery of content and rules. The system comprises atleast one first database entity that manages a plurality of data; atleast one second database entity that manages a plurality of content,wherein the plurality of content is associated with the plurality ofdata based on a plurality of rules; a processor module; a deliverymodule; and one or more presentation channels; where the processormodule packages the plurality of rules with the plurality of content ina carrier that is independent from the one or more presentationchannels, wherein at least part of the plurality of content isintegrated with at least part of the plurality of data, the deliverymodule delivers the plurality of data and the carrier to the one or morepresentation channels, and the one or more presentation channelsintegrate the plurality of data with the plurality of content based onthe plurality of rules, and distribute the integrated data and content.

Yet another embodiment of the present invention comprises a system formanagement and delivery of content and rules. The system comprises meansfor managing, for an organization, a plurality of data and a pluralityof content in separate database entities, wherein the plurality ofcontent is associated with the plurality of data based on a plurality ofrules; means for packaging the plurality of rules with the plurality ofcontent in a carrier that is independent from one or more presentationchannels, wherein at least part of the plurality of content isintegrated with at least part of the plurality of data; means fordelivering the plurality of data and the carrier to the one or morepresentation channels; means for integrating, at the one or morepresentation channels, the plurality of data with the plurality ofcontent based on the plurality of rules; and means for distributing theintegrated data and content through the one or more presentationchannels.

Still another embodiment of the present invention comprises a computerreadable medium having code for causing at least one processor to manageand deliver content and rules. The computer readable medium comprisescode adapted to manage, for an organization, a plurality of data and aplurality of content in separate database entities, wherein theplurality of content is associated with the plurality of data based on aplurality of rules; code adapted to package the plurality of rules withthe plurality of content in a carrier that is independent from one ormore presentation channels, wherein at least part of the plurality ofcontent is integrated with at least part of the plurality of data; codeadapted to deliver the plurality of data and the carrier to the one ormore presentation channels; code adapted to integrate, at the one ormore presentation channels, the plurality of data with the plurality ofcontent based on the plurality of rules; and code adapted to distributethe integrated data and content through the one or more presentationchannels.

One further embodiment of the present invention comprises a method formanagement and delivery of content and rules. The method comprisesmanaging, for an organization, a plurality of data and a plurality ofcontent in separate database entities, wherein the plurality of data areassociated with a plurality of products and a plurality of clients, theplurality of content is stored in at least one media-independent formatand comprises at least one of a discrete text element, a compiled textelement and a graphic element, and the plurality of content isassociated with the plurality of data based on a plurality of rules;packaging the plurality of rules with the plurality of content in acarrier that is independent from one or more presentation channels,wherein at least part of the plurality of content is integrated with atleast part of the plurality of data, the plurality of content ispackaged based on an extensible markup language (XML), and the pluralityof rules are packaged based on an XSL transformations (XSLT) language;delivering the plurality of data and the carrier to the one or morepresentation channels, wherein the one or more presentation channelscomprise at least one of an Internet website, a printed communication,an electronic communication, a printed advertisement, a broadcastadvertisement, a telemarketing script, an interactive voice responseunit message, an automatic teller machine (ATM) message, and adisplay-board message; integrating, at the one or more presentationchannels, the plurality of data with the plurality of content based onthe plurality of rules and specific needs of the one or morepresentation channels; and distributing the integrated data and contentthrough the one or more presentation channels.

Additional features and advantages of the invention will be set forth inthe description that follows, and in part will be apparent from thedescription, or may be learned by practice of the invention. The objectsand other advantages of the invention will be realized and attained bythe system and methods, particularly pointed out in the writtendescription and claims hereof as well as the appended drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The purpose and advantages of the present invention will be apparent tothose of skill in the art from the following detailed description inconjunction with the appended drawings in which like referencecharacters are used to indicate like elements, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a flow chart illustrating an exemplary method for managementand delivery of content and rules according to an embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating exemplary data flows andfunctional modules according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating an exemplary system formanagement and delivery of content and rules according to, an embodimentof the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating an exemplary method forcontent-data pre-integration according to an embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 5 is a flow chart illustrating an exemplary method for managementand delivery of content and rules according to an embodiment of thepresent invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Reference will now be made in detail to the present embodiments of theinvention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings.

Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown a flow chart illustrating anexemplary method for management and delivery of content and rulesaccording to an embodiment of the present invention. The process stepsin this flow chart provide an overview of the inventive method.

In step 100, a plurality of data for an organization may be compiled andmanaged in one or more databases that are separate from managed content.The data may be from a number of sources providing a wide range ofinformation. For example, a customer database may contain not only basicidentification and contact information regarding each customer, but alsosuch information as the account status, account history and spendingpatterns, etc. A marketing database may contain product or serviceoffers including prices, interest rates, and other specific terms. Otherdatabases may contain financial market rates, indexes and benchmarks,local and federal regulations, etc.

In step 102, relevant data may be automatically imported from thevarious sources. A core content management system or application mayhave access to the various databases over network interface(s), directdata junction or portable media, for example.

Concurrently, in step 104, a plurality of content and rules may bestored and managed in one or more media-independent formats for anentire organization. The managed content may include any kind of text orgraphic elements that may be used in the organization's communicationswith clients, partners and/or the general public. For example, for afinancial company, text elements may include disclosure language,portfolio language, fulfillment language, acquisition languages andpartner languages. These text elements may be either discrete (e.g.,words or phrases) or compiled (e.g., sentences or paragraphs). Thegraphic elements may include, for example, company logos, trademarks,letterheads, photos, creative images, forms and templates, etc. Thecontent may be managed in a centralized fashion for the entireorganization such that there is no duplicate of content storage andmaintenance. The managed content may be stored in one or a series ofrelational databases. Updates and modifications of the content may bedone through a user interface and the resulting changes can be keptconsistent throughout the organization. The managed content is typicallystandardized. For each element that varies in final presentation, thesimilarities are recognized and retained in a standardized form whilethe dissimilarities are treated as variables or variable content.According to embodiments of the invention, the formats of the contentmay be independent from the media types in which it will be presented.One or more style tags or identifiers may be attached to each contentunit.

Furthermore, a plurality of logic and business rules may be compiled andmanaged for the entire organization. Such rules may include mandatory,conditional or optional associations between the variable data andmanaged content and/or among the data or content themselves. These rulestypically govern the logical combination as well as physical layout ofthe data and content. The compilation and management of the rules may bebased on organization policies, business motivations, regulatory orlegal requirements, and contractual obligations. For example, thebusiness rules may reflect particular promotional offers, qualificationalgorithms, terms and conditions, etc. The rules may also include thoseconcerning the fonts, formats and styles of a presentation output.

Part of the data and managed content may be pre-integrated in step 106based on the plurality of logic and business rules. For example, thedata and content that do not vary based on the media, presentationchannels or target audience may be combined and composed in accordancewith the predetermined rules. The pre-integrated elements may themselvesserve as part of the managed content in the subsequent processes.

In step 110, the relevant content, integrated data and rules may bepackaged in a media-independent carrier. A separate data file containingaccount-specific information may have been sorted and organized into alist file. The managed content may be selected and have style tagsembedded in the presentation nodes of the content file attached thereto.According to an embodiment of the invention, the managed content may bepackaged based on an extensible markup language (XML). The relevantrules governing the integration of the variable data and managed contentmay be packaged based on an XSL transformations (XSLT) language. XSL isshort for extensible stylesheet language. The media-independent carriermay be an electronic package containing the list file, the XML file andthe XSLT file. Alternatively, the list file may be delivered separatelyto the presentation channels.

In step 112, the media-independent carrier may be delivered to one ormore presentation channels. A presentation channel is typically a mediachannel through which the organization may communicate with a target orgeneral audience. Exemplary presentation channels may include directmailing, printed advertisements, Internet websites, display boards,televised commercials, telemarketing scripts, E-mails, alerts,interactive voice response unit (IVR or VRU) messages, and web pages,etc. Delivery of the carrier may be carried out over a networkconnection or via portable media.

In step 114, each presentation channel may fully integrate the data andcontent into channel-specific output based on the relevant rules and thespecific needs of each channel. According to embodiments of theinvention, it would be desirable for each presentation channel to beequipped with processing tools capable of handling the media-independentcarrier. Such processing tools may import the electronic package, unpackthe data, content and rules files, populate the content with variabledata based on the rules as well as specific needs of the presentationchannel, and generate outputs suitable for publishing in the channel.

In step 116, the channel-specific output may be published. That is, theoutputs with integrated data and content may finally be presented to theintended audience through the specific media channels. For example,personalized letters, coupons or convenience checks may be mailed to theindividuals; the composed web content may be called to a web server anddynamically published based on customer information; the advertisementsmay be printed on magazines or newspapers; commercial scripts may bebroadcast on radio or television; and telemarketing scripts may be readby telemarketers to their callers.

The above-described process may also include a preview and auditing step118 where the managed content, the pre-integrated data and content, andthe fully integrated outputs may be previewed and audited for qualitycontrol as well as legal and compliance requirements. The auditing maybe carried out by financial experts, administrative personnel, legalexperts and IT staff through a high-level user interface. Changes may bemade through a change management interface.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating exemplary data flows andfunctional modules according to an embodiment of the present invention.The exemplary data flows and functional modules may be implemented basedon the exemplary system depicted in FIG. 3. The architecture of thecontent management system involve three layers: data (200), managedcontent (300) and presentation (400), which are developed and managedseparately in order to best support the complexity and scope of thebusiness. In practice, data from various sources, such as products data202, offer or promotion data 204, and partner data 208, may beautomatically imported to the content layer 300. Specifically, the datamay be delivered through a data migration interface 210. The corecontent management application(s) may automatically pull appropriatecontent elements, such as portfolio language 212, fulfillment language214, acquisition language 216, disclosure language 218 and partnerlanguage & images 220. Based on the logic and business rules 222, thecontent may be populated with variable data points and aggregatedcontent elements may be created in pre-integration 226. The data,content and rules may then be packaged (228) and delivered (230) topresentation layer 400. The account data 206 may be delivered directlyto the presentation layer 400 or pass through the content layer 300. Thecontent layer 300 may also include a cChange management module 224 formodifying and updating the content and rules through a user-friendlyinterface. The presentation layer 400 may include a number ofpresentation channels, such as internet website 234, direct mailing 236,printed advertisement 238, portfolio marketing 240, display boards 242,and televised ads, ATM & telemarketing 244. Each of these channels mayfully integrate the data and content based on the rules received andtheir individual needs. Each channel may generate outputs specificallysuited to their communication medium. For example, in the Internetwebsite channel 234, the output may include general informational webpages, as well as customized web messages for individual online members.In the direct mailing channel 236, the output may include personalizedenvelopes, letters and inserts that represent offer information matchedto qualified individuals. In the printed advertisement channel 238, theoutput may include take-ones, flyers and advertisement pages withinformation or messages of a general nature. In channel 244, the outputmay include certain scripts to be incorporated in televisioncommercials, messages to be displayed at automatic teller machines(ATMs), telemarketing scripts, and/or interactive voice response unit(IVR or VRU) messages.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating an exemplary system formanagement and delivery of content and rules according to an embodimentof the present invention. In FIG. 3, there is shown a processor 302, auser Interface 304, a content database 306, a business rules database308, other databases 310, 312 and 314, and exemplary presentationschannels such as print shop 316, mass media 318, public display 320, andInternet website 322. Processor 302 may be a computer or a servercapable of data manipulation, logic operation and mathematicalcalculation. Processor 302 may also have network access or other dataconnections with other components of the system. User interface 304 mayinclude input and output devices as well as software interfaces toenable a user to interact with the content management application(s)hosted in processor 302. Content database 306 may comprise storagemedium as well as management tools for a variety of content. Businessrules database 308 may comprise storage medium as well as managementtools for logic and business rules. The databases 310, 312 and 314represent various sources of variable data that may be accessed locallyor remotely.

In operation, processor 302 may be commanded through user interface 304to manage content database 306 and business rules database 308.Processor 302 may also be commanded to import relevant data fromdatabases 310, 312 and 314, associate the data with managed content incontent database 306 based on the rules in database 308, and package thedata, content and rules for delivery to the presentation channels.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating an exemplary method forcontent-data pre-integration according to an embodiment of the presentinvention. In FIG. 4, there is shown content elements 402, data source404, logidrules 406 and compiled content 408. The exemplary data,content and rules are related to a standard Schumer Box that financialcompanies are required to use to discloses the basic terms of a creditcard in credit card advertising and solicitation materials. Herein, theContent Elements 402 include the specific language for the “Other APR”field and “Variable rate information” field. In a content database, thelanguage for the “Other APR” field is identified with a field code“SH_OA_LP_(—)06080910” and language for the “Variable rate information”field is identified with field code “VRI F NBT FCAV 10.” Take the “LatePayment APR” language as an example. The language includes variableportions identified by place holding tags such as [F], [H] and [P],which have their corresponding data values in data source 404. Tocompile a “RATE, FEE AND OTHER COST INFORMATION” table, the Schumer Boxpart of the logic/rules 406 may be executed by the content managementsystem. For example, to populate the “Late Payment APR” portion in the“Other APR” field, the field code “SH_OA_LP_XXXXXXXX” in the rule tablemay be utilized to identify the appropriate content element, which is

-   -   “Late Payment APR: Late once during introductory period:    -   [F]% [H] on purchases. Late twice in any six-month period:    -   [P]% [R] on all balances.”        And the place holding tags [F], [H], [P] and [R] in the selected        content element may be utilized to pull the relevant data values        9.90, F, 19.99 and F respectively, from the data source list        file. The data values may be combined with the “Late Payment        APR” language and filled in the appropriate field in the Schumer        Box, so that port may read    -   “Late Payment APR: Late once during introductory period:    -   9.90% fixed on purchases. Late twice in any six-month period:        19.99% fixed on all balances.”        in the final compiled content 408. This Schumer Box (compiled        content 408) is now pre-integrated content which may be combined        with other pre-integrated content, such as marketing language,        and sent to the presentation channels with the rules and list        file or other customer data to be used to create a single        presentation package populated with the customer's account level        information such as name, address, balance. The Selmer Box        content may be published via a variety of presentation channels,        for example printed in credit card advertisements, inserted in        mailing pieces, uploaded to web pages, shown on public display        boards or read in a radio broadcast.

Referring now to FIG. 5, there is shown a flow chart illustrating anexemplary method for content management and delivery according to anembodiment of the present invention. The illustrated process steps arerelated to the production of convenience checks in a marketing campaign.Nevertheless, the exemplary method may be applicable or adaptable to thepreparation of other types of client communications as well.

In a marketing campaign for credit products, marketing department 510 ofa financial company may generate certain requirements for the campaign.For example, any required content changes may be submitted and processedthrough a content change management application 512. Specificinformation related to the campaign, such as balance transfer pricingstructure and population targeting criteria, may be included in acampaign data file 514. The campaign data file 514 may be delivered tolist management department 530, where the campaign data may be processedresulting in account/individual list file 532. The list file 532 maycontain account data with placeholder tags for variable data andvariable content. The campaign data file 514 may also be delivered tocontent services department 520 together with the content changes. Acontent management application 522 may integrate the campaign contentand campaign data in step 524 and generate a campaign content package540. The campaign content package 540 may include an XSLT File 542, anXML content file 544 and graphic and form files 546. The XSLT file 542may be a logic file that is used to parse the list file 532. The XMLcontent file 544 may contain all the campaign-related template,presentation and content information. The graphic and form files 546 maybe images (e.g., background images of a convenience check or checktemplate form) that are referenced in the XML Content File 544 and areto be placed in the final print. Next, the list file 532 and thecampaign content package 540 may be delivered to a print vendor 550. Instep 552, the print vendor 550 may run a program to parse the list file532 based on the XSLT file 542, generating parsed account data files554. In the parsed account data files 554, each account's data may bematched with qualified campaign data. Then, in step 556, account-levelcontent processing may be performed, where information in the XMLcontent file 544 may be executed against the parsed account data files554, resulting in aggregated account-specific content files 558. Theaggregated account-specific content files 558 may contain content,presentation instructions (e.g., content placement and styleinformation), and image instructions (e.g., image reference, placement,and style information). In the final print production step 560, theaggregated account-specific content files 558 may be printed onpre-existing template forms based on the presentation instructions.Specific form IDs may be referenced in the aggregated account-specificcontent files 558. The referenced images may be retrieved from thegraphic and form files 546 and printed on the forms based on the imageinstructions. The final result may be account-specific print materials562 such as individualized convenience checks with recipients' names,mailing addresses and balance transfer interest rates.

According to embodiments of the invention, the system and method formanagement and delivery of content and rules as described above may beespecially beneficial to a company with the need for mass distributionof content and/or data to a diverse population. Companies that may bebenefited include those in the financial services sector, insurance,pharmaceutical, publishing, or manufacturing (such as tools, automobilesor electronics equipment) with the need to communicate to theircustomers or potential customer base. For example, a financial companymay prepare and send million of direct-mail pieces on a weekly basis,distribute a wide range of acquisition materials such as magazine ads,take-ones, fast applications and mail inserts, contact millions ofbanking customers or card members at least on a monthly basis, and sendout a huge amount of fulfillment materials, both printed and plastic.For such a financial entity, it may be desirable to implement the systemand method for management and delivery of content and rules inaccordance with embodiments of the present invention, such that themanagement of data, content and rules may be centralized andstreamlined. As a result, business rules may be embedded to matchcontent to data. For example, disclosure language may be consistentlymatched to pricing data, marketing copies may be accurately populatedwith offer data, and partner requirements may be fulfilled by correctuse of images and language. The centralized content management may alsoensure consistent and efficient change management where changes are notduplicated and relational changes may be systematically identified. Suchimplementation may also facilitate sharing of information amongdifferent lines of business within the company, which may createcross-sell opportunities otherwise invisible to independent-operatinglines of business.

While the foregoing description includes many details and specificities,it is to be understood that these have been included for purposes ofexplanation only, and are not to be interpreted as limitations of thepresent invention. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art thatother modifications to the embodiments described above can be madewithout departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.Accordingly, such modifications are considered within the scope of theinvention as intended to be encompassed by the following claims andtheir legal equivalents.

1-33. (canceled)
 34. A computer-implemented method for management anddelivery of content and rules, the method comprising: managing, for anorganization, a plurality of data and a plurality of content in separatedatabase entities, the managing accomplished using a computer processor,wherein the plurality of content is associated with the plurality ofdata based on a plurality of rules, the plurality of rules controlling alogical combination and physical layout of the plurality of data andplurality of content; packaging, using the computer processor, theplurality of rules with the plurality of content in a carrier, thecontent stored on the carrier in a media-independent format; anddelivering the plurality of data and the carrier to at least onepresentation channel, the delivered carrier enabling logical integrationof the plurality of data with the plurality of content based on theplurality of rules; integrating, using processing tools at thepresentation channel, the data and content to provide customized outputto individual recipients; and distributing the customized output throughthe presentation channel.
 35. The method of claim 34, wherein providingthe customized output comprises providing coupons.
 36. The method ofclaim 34, wherein the presentation channel is an ATM machine.
 37. Themethod of claim 34, wherein the presentation channel is an internetwebsite.
 38. The method of claim 34, wherein managing the data andcontent comprises managing a customer database including basicidentifying information, account information, and spending patterns. 39.The method of claim 38, further comprising importing data from thedatabases for packaging.
 40. The method of claim 34, wherein theplurality of rules reflect particular promotional offers.
 41. The methodof claim 39, wherein the plurality of rules reflect qualificationalgorithms for the promotional offers.
 42. The method of claim 34,wherein delivering the carrier is accomplished over a network.
 43. Themethod of claim 34, wherein delivering the carrier is accomplished viaportable media.
 44. The method according to claim 34, wherein theplurality of data is associated with a plurality of products and aplurality of clients.
 45. The method according to claim 34, wherein thecarrier comprises a plurality of style tags, wherein the plurality ofstyle tags are associated with the plurality of content based on theplurality of rules.
 46. The method according to claim 34, wherein theplurality of content comprises at least one of: a discrete text element;a compiled text element; and a graphic element.
 47. The method accordingto claim 34, wherein the plurality of content is packaged based on anextensible markup language (XML).
 48. The method according to claim 34,wherein the plurality of rules is packaged based on an XSLtransformations (XSLT) language.
 49. The method according to claim 34,wherein the integration of the plurality of data with the plurality ofcontent is further based on specific needs of the multiple presentationchannels.
 50. The method according to claim 34, further comprisingediting the plurality of content and the plurality of rules via a userinterface.
 51. A system for management and delivery of content andrules, the system comprising: at least one first database entity thatmanages a plurality of data; at least one second database entity thatmanages a plurality of content, wherein the plurality of content isassociated with the plurality of data based on a plurality of rules, theplurality of rules controlling a logical combination and physical layoutof the plurality of data and plurality of content; a processor module; adelivery module; and at least one presentation channel; where theprocessor module packages the plurality of rules with the plurality ofcontent in a media independent format in a carrier, wherein at leastpart of the plurality of content is integrated with at least part of theplurality of data; the delivery module delivers the plurality of dataand the carrier to the at least one presentation channel; and the atleast one presentation channel integrates the data and content toprovide customized output to individual recipients.
 52. The system ofclaim 51, wherein providing the customized output comprises providingcoupons.
 53. The system of claim 51, wherein the presentation channel isan ATM machine.
 54. The system of claim 51, wherein the presentationchannel is an internet website.
 55. The system of claim 51, wherein oneof the first and second databases comprises a customer databaseincluding basic identifying information, account information, andspending patterns.
 56. The system according to claim 51, furthercomprising multiple presentation channels, wherein the integration ofthe plurality of data with the plurality of content is further based onspecific needs of the multiple presentation channels.
 57. The system ofclaim 51, wherein the plurality of rules reflect particular promotionaloffers.
 58. The system of claim 51, wherein the plurality of rulesreflect qualification algorithms for the promotional offers.
 59. Thesystem of claim 51, wherein delivering the carrier is accomplished overa network.
 60. The system of claim 51, wherein delivering the carrier isaccomplished via portable media.
 61. The system according to claim 51,wherein the plurality of data is associated with a plurality of productsand a plurality of clients.
 62. The system according to claim 51,wherein the carrier comprises a plurality of style tags, wherein theplurality of style tags are associated with the plurality of contentbased on the plurality of rules.
 63. The system according to claim 51,wherein the plurality of content comprises at least one of: a discretetext element; a compiled text element; and a graphic element.
 64. Thesystem according to claim 51, wherein the plurality of content ispackaged based on an extensible markup language (XML).
 65. The systemaccording to claim 51, wherein the plurality of rules are packaged basedon an XSL transformations (XSLT) language.